Journal Walker

People use many devices in their homes to help make housework easier. Advances in technology have greatly improved many of these devices and there are some pretty neat ones as well, such as remote controlled vacuum cleaners. While there are new products invented everyday in hopes of making housework easier, most have been around for a long time. One device that is very popular today, but is over a thousand years old is the dumbwaiter.

The first dumbwaiter in recorded history dates back to 200 BC, during the Roman Empire. Likely however, they were used before this, but this is the earliest written document that contains mention of this device. In early days, the dumbwaiter was often only a piece of wood or a shelf, which had a piece of rope tied to it. There are also many cases, where animals or water was used to do the actual lifting.

The dumbwaiter remained incredibly popular throughout history and during the medieval time, they were found in all castles. During the sixteenth century, there were several advances made in dumbwaiter technology at the hands of a Russian inventor. By the end of the nineteenth century, there were many advances including several electric dumbwaiters.

Despite the electric dumbwaiter becoming popular, manual dumbwaiters would remain much more common for some time. These were found in most homes and businesses. They became incredibly popular in apartment buildings as well, which often had steep staircases that could be hard to manage without your hands full.

The tides have turned though and today, most people choose to go with an electric model. The electric lifts are much easier to use and are very reliable. It is possible to effortlessly move over a hundred pounds of groceries to the kitchen, with doing nothing more than pushing a button.

Most commercial, and some of those made for homes, support much more than only a hundred pounds though. Many times, a lift that will be used in a business is designed to support well over seven hundred pounds. For smaller businesses, this type of weight capacity is not needed though, so many opt to go for a less expensive lift. There are several kits that are made for homes, but can be upgraded to support more weight and use a larger car, which makes these more than acceptable for a small business.

Choosing a lift for the home or business first requires that you determine where it will go. You will need a vertical space between floors. This vertical space is usually referred to as a shaft and usually, the shaft will need to be at least 4 square feet (2 foot by 2 foot.)

If you don’t have a space you can use, a closet can usually be converted to provide the necessary space. If needed, the car can be configured so that it will open up on different sides. This allows you to have it open on one side on the ground floor and the opposite side in the bedroom, so there are many more opportunities.

Those that choose to use a dumbwaiter in their home will be well served by these devices that have a long history in America.

Sean is a writer who knows that making work around the home easier is very important to a lot of people. Electric Dumbwaiters are often used to this end, because they allow something to be quickly moved between floors. Learn more about the dumbwaiter and other lifting devices, like stair lifts, at AmeriGlide.

Have you heard the news? Traffic Exchanges are crap. That was what I was told and believed until recently.What made me change my mind you may be asking yourself, Well hold on to your hat because what I’m about to reveal to you will change your mind about using Traffic Exchanges forever.

For the purpose of this article I’m going to assume that

A)You know what a Traffic Exchange is

B)You have used them before without much success

If you don’t know what a Traffic Exchange is then please read the information in the resource box at the bottom of this article. Now that we have got that out of the way, I can get right into the meaty stuff that you want to know more about. When I first started out in Affiliate Marketing, I was immediately drawn towards using Traffic Exchanges because of what they offered, which is…

1) A quick way to build your downline

3) Free to low advertising cost

As you can see just these 3 benefits alone makes it easy to understand why people like you and me would want to use them. When I look back, I actually didn’t do to badly on my first attempt of using Traffic Exchanges, but I did make basic mistakes which I want you to avoid. Sign up to any Traffic Exchange and one of the first things that they advise you to do is to join their recommended Traffic Exchange services.

You should do this, but don’t try to sign up to all of them in one go, just join a couple of them everyday.This was the first mistake that I made, trying to do to much to quickly. Another thing that I would advise you to do before you start joining traffic exchanges is to get a page rotator.

A page rotator is the secret to you getting thousands of hits to any web page that you want in a matter of days. I had used one before, but not in the way that I’m about to show you now. Let me explain my old method and new method to you step by step starting with the old.

1) got page rotator

2) joined traffic exchanges

3) put traffic exchanges affiliate links into page rotator

4) put rotator URL in all traffic exchanges that I joined

5) start surfing for page credits

Now lets look at the new method

1) got page rotator

2) joined traffic exchanges

3) put traffic exchanges affiliate links into page rotator

4) put rotator URL in all traffic exchanges that I joined

5) start surfing for page credits

Yeah I know both methods appear to be exactly the same, and they are but with slight changes.The first and most important change that I made was to track and test my results from all of the Traffic Exchanges that I joined. I cannot stress how important it is that you do this.Tracking and testing your results will enable you to weed out the poorly performing Traffic Exchanges.

You Can Get This For Free

I personally use Goggle Analytics for all of my tracking and testing which is a free tool provided by Google. I now know where all of my traffic is coming from, and from which country, city etc. Having this information at my finger tips makes it easy for me to know which Traffic Exchange is worth up-grading and buying traffic credits from.

The second change that I made was to stay up to date regarding all news concerning Traffic Exchanges, which is simple for you to do, just sign up to Traffic Hoopla.com and you will gain access providing that you upgrade to an in depth regularly up-dated report about the best Traffic Exchanges for you to join.

Another website that I recommend that you join is Affiliate Funnel.com. What’s really cool about this web site is that you can get information about all the best Traffic Exchanges from the point of view of people that use them on a regular basis.

Have you got your own web site?

Having your own web site is not really that important when using Traffic Exchanges, You will find that most of the people that use them simply promote free affiliate web pages.Personally speaking I prefer to have my own domain name and web site because I want to brand myself as the expert in my chosen subject and not someone else.

One thing that I’ve noticed is that web sites about traffic generation and list building or building your down lines, tend to get much better results than any other type of website.This is where I have made my third change, by making sure that my rotator is 70% weighted with traffic and down line building affiliate web sites. The other 30% is used to promote my own web site and favourite affiliate programs.

Conclusion

Using a rotator will definitely enable you to get much better results in the Traffic Exchanges,I have no doubt about this. But the rotator will not magically turn water into wine, or in your case turn pennies into pounds or 1000’s of dollars. You must test and track all of your result before seeing any significant improvement in your online earnings, this is not a difficult thing to do and I urge you to get started today.

Article by Paul Profitt- For more information regarding Traffic Exchanges Page Rotators and how you can earn money online then please visit his website at http://www.my-1st-promotion.com and sign up to his FREE Super7 List Building eCourse Today

People that work in the home, both homeowners and those that are employed by the homeowners, often have difficulty moving things between floors. Many have found that using a dumbwaiter is a good way to help make these this easier.

Carrying everything up the stairs can put a big strain on your back, but it can also increase the risk of a fall. For anyone, a fall on the stairs can result in an injury. For seniors not only is the risk of a fall increased, but the risk of an injury, which is often times hard to recover from, is also increased. This is one reason that many older homeowners choose to install a dumbwaiter. These devices allow them to move objects throughout the house, without having to lug them up the stairs.

Most homeowners today opt for an electric dumbwaiter. These can be loaded with a hundred pounds, and more depending on the model, which is then sent effortlessly throughout the house. They use call buttons on each floor, so if the dumbwaiter is not present, you simply push the button and it will come to you. These buttons are also used to send the dumbwaiter on its way when you have it loaded.

While some people still have manual dumbwaiters, this practice is decreasing as the electric lifts have become less expensive and easier to install. The electric lift will not only offer improved performance, but it also has built in safety features, that are designed to protect the person using it, others in the home, and the lift itself.

One of the key features that help to greatly improve safety is the use of automatically locking doors. These doors lock as soon as the lift moves away from the door and can not be opened again until the lift is present. This is great for kids, because it is not possible to open the door, thereby exposing the shaft, unless the dumbwaiter car is there. These locks are operated either electronically or mechanically. Both can be overridden if necessary, but you should only do this for maintenance reasons or when troubleshooting.

Another safety feature that an electric unit has is a series of sensors on the car. These sensors detect obstructions that could interfere with the movement of the lift. This way rather than simply driving through it and potentially damaging the car and track, the dumbwaiter instead stops moving when it detects something in its path. It will then be necessary to clear the obstruction, but this way you do not risk damaging the lift.

Not having to hoist a dumbwaiter up by hand is a big step up. Some manual dumbwaiters are designed with safety stops, which allow you to let go of the rope, without having to worry about dropping the dumbwaiter. This is not always the case though.

This makes it much easier to use and helps reduce the amount of work around the home. Finding ways to make things easier for yourself or the person taking care of your home is important and many choose to install a lift in their home.

Sean is a writer and has experience with electric dumbwaiters and other lifting aids. People all over the world rely on a dumbwaiter to make work around the home easier. If you would like to find out more about these devices or other lifting aids, such as the stair lift, visit AmeriGlide today.

If you love food and have the ability to add creative flair to your writing, you could look forward to a career in freelance food writing.

Technically, freelance food writing means tasting food and then describing it. Practically, it’s a much more involved process. Food critics often absorb the entire dining experience of the restaurant they’re in. How does the atmosphere contribute to the quality of the food? What was the service like? What did the food taste like?

The latter can be a fun question to answer because it’s your opportunity to let your creativity shine through. Don’t shy away from elaborate adjectives and metaphors. Think along the lines of: “The arugula and baby spinach medley, coupled with bursts of cilantro and cranberry, was bliss to the palate.”

Who offers freelance food writing jobs?

Food writing is one of the more prolific freelancing jobs. Almost every major newspaper in the country has a food section. There are also dozens of magazines you could write for, depending on your food or beverage preference.

As mentioned earlier, people looking for freelance food writers may really be looking for restaurant reviewers. Be prepared to do either one or both, depending on your editor. Remember that a whole restaurant review can be a little more in-depth than simply writing about the food, so make sure to pay attention to everything that happens from the moment you walk through those restaurant doors.

Where can I find these jobs?

If you’ve done a couple of food reviews, submit them to food magazines and the food section editors of newspapers, along with a query letter. Your query letter should include a brief, exciting plug for the article you’d like to write, along with several good reasons why you should be the freelance writer to do it.

Another idea is to look for restaurants that are opening in your area and approach the owners directly. Let them know you’re a freelance food writer who would like to help them get their new restaurant in the paper. It’ll give you an excellent opportunity to write their review first and get it published. You might even get a free meal!

Occasionally, you’ll find ads for freelance food writers on the Internet. Approach with caution; usually these jobs pay very little.

What skills do I need to be a freelance food writer?

Besides creativity and keen eye, it’s helpful if you have a passion for food. That may sound obvious, but it’s worth mentioning – the more you love what you’re writing about, the more likely you’ll be able to convey that passion to your readers.

In food writing, that passion is critical because it’s the only way to engage your readers. If you’re just saying, “My pasta primavera was exceptional and so was the service,” you’re not going to hold your readers’ attention for long. Instead, you need to say something like, “The just-picked pan-seared veggies over homemade al dente linguini made the meal feel light and refreshing, even for pasta.”

Besides passion, you need education. Read food magazines, check out the food section in the newspaper, eat out a lot, attend wine and cheeses, and learn the food trends that are happening in cities like New York and Los Angeles. The more you know, the better you’ll write.

How do I respond to an ad?

If you come across an ad for a food writer, say in a wine-lovers’ magazine, you’ll need to respond in a way that entices editors to accept your articles. How would you respond to the ad below?

Calling all food lovers! Wine & Vine is looking for articles about pairing wines and foods. Please submit 500-600-word articles with a short bio of yourself before January.

It looks like the magazine is looking for articles with a food emphasis, which is great if you don’t know a lot about wine pairing. Do a bit of Internet research on which cheeses and meats go with which wines. Then describe those foods (”A melt-in-your-mouth Kobe steak,” “Roquefort straight from the Vall

The term “ghostwriting” refers to writing for someone that you don’t receive credit for. Famous people, for example, seldom write their own autobiographies. Instead, they hire a ghostwriter to tell their story for them.

Why would a freelance ghostwriter agree to forfeit credit for his or her work? Simple: money. Clients usually pay ghostwriters far more than a “normal” writer’s fee of $20-$50 an hour. Small books (150 pages or less) usually cost a client at least $25,000. Fees go up from there depending on the length and type of book, as well as the amount of research required by the ghostwriter.

The fees are high because you can’t slap your byline on the work and you forfeit all rights to royalties that your book generates. The exceptions are if the client agrees to put your name in print on the cover, name you as a co-author, or offer you part of the royalties. In those cases, you would often give a hefty discount depending on the return you expected.

What types of books can I ghostwrite?

Many industries seek the skills of freelance ghostwriters. Fiction and children’s writing are common – people often have (or think they have) an amazing storyline, but lack the writing ability to sell it.

Freelance ghostwriters often pen non-fiction books, such as autobiographies and instructional, business, and self-help books. Sometimes these ghostwriters are experts in the subject matter, sometimes they are not. You may have to do a lot of research, or none at all.

You can also ghostwrite for smaller projects, like articles and web content. These don’t usually pay more than normal writing but they’re good resume builders.

Where can I find freelance ghostwriting gigs?

Set up a website to promote your freelance ghostwriting services. Because ghostwriting is expensive, it’s important to buyers that you are truly a ghostwriting professional. Presenting yourself with a polished website is a great way to emphasize your credibility.

It is more than possible to find ghostwriting jobs on freelancing websites, but buyers there are usually less knowledgeable and therefore less willing to pay good money. It is common to see ads for a 250-page book that needs writing with a budget of $500 or less. It doesn’t hurt to keep your eye out for a gem though – it does happen occasionally.

What skills do I need to be a freelance ghostwriter?

If you have experience, you’re off to a great start. If you lack experience, thumb through your own files to see if you can use some of that as writing examples, or write some from scratch. You don’t have to ghostwrite it to prove your writing skills. If you have a particular client in mind, do your best to match your writing style and samples to the type of writing you think your client is looking for.

Remember that any samples you send can’t be ghostwritten work. Unless otherwise specified in the agreement, you can’t ever disclose that you’re the author behind ghostwritten work. In these cases, feel free to describe the book you ghostwrote and how well it’s doing.

How should I respond to a ghostwriting ad?

If you find a promising ad (or if someone contacts you), respond professionally using perfect grammar and polite language. For practice, try responding to this sample ad:

I’m looking for someone to write a book about choosing the right family pet. I have an outline and some research but a little more will be required. The book should only be about 100 pages. I will own all rights afterwards. Serious writers only.

What should you say to this person? Well, it’s good to start off expressing an interest in their subject matter. Ghostwriting projects are usually dear to buyers’ hearts, so if you start by saying you’re passionate about pets, you’ll catch his eye right away.

Next, you’ll want to assure him that you can handle the task. If you don’t have enough experience to convince him, suggest having him send one chapter outline and writing a sample for him for free. Yes, it’s a bit of unpaid work for you, but it will mean thousands of dollars if you get the job.

Finally, quote a fee. The book is short and research appears to be minimal. If you’re experienced, quote $25,000. If you’re not, quote around $15,000. It’s far less than an experienced ghostwriter would make, but you have to start somewhere. Good luck!

Brian Scott is a full-time freelance writer with over a decade of experience. He finds many of his paid freelance ghostwriting jobs at Online Writing Jobs ( www.online-writing-jobs.com ), a free jobboard that lets you search thousands of freelance writing jobs.